Flexible Electronic Devices

ABSTRACT

Flexible electronic devices may be provided. A flexible electronic device may include a flexible display, a flexible housing and one or more flexible internal components configured to allow the flexible electronic device to be deformed. Flexible displays may include flexible display layers, flexible touch-sensitive layers, and flexible display cover layers. The flexible housing may be a multi-stable flexible housing having one or more stable positions. The flexible housing may include a configurable support structure that, when engaged, provides a rigid support structure for the flexible housing. The flexible internal components may include flexible batteries, flexible printed circuits or other flexible components. A flexible battery may include flexible and rigid portions or may include a lubricious separator layer that provides flexibility for the flexible battery. A flexible printed circuit may include flexible and rigid portions or openings that allow some rigid portions to flex with respect to other rigid portions.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/250,227, filed Sep. 30, 2011, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety. This application claims the benefit ofand claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/250,227.

BACKGROUND

This relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly, toflexible electronic devices.

Electronic devices such as portable computers and cellular telephonesare often provided with rigid components. Rigid components often includerigid housing structures, rigid displays such as liquid crystal displays(LCDs), rigid display cover layers formed from plastic or glass, rigidinternal components such as rigid printed circuit boards, batteries,other electrical components or other rigid structural components.Electronic devices are commonly designed to have a rigid exteriorstructure.

Flexible display technologies are available that allow displays to beflexed. For example, flexible displays may be formed using flexibleorganic light-emitting diode (OLED) display technology. Electronicdevices with flexible display are commonly provided with rigid housingstructures or other rigid structures that form a rigid electronicdevice.

Rigid electronic devices may be vulnerable to damage in the event of animpact such as a drop of the device on a hard surface.

It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improvedelectronic devices.

SUMMARY

Electronic devices may be provided that have portions that are capableof being flexed.

Flexible electronic devices may include flexible housing members andflexible internal components. A flexible housing member may include aflexible device housing. Rigid and flexible internal components may bemounted in the flexible housing. Flexible internal components mayinclude a flexible display such as an Organic Light Emitting Diode(OLED) display. A flexible display may be mounted to a flexible displaycover layer. A flexible display cover layer may be mounted to a flexibledevice housing. Flexible internal components may include flexiblecircuit boards such as printed circuits having one or more flexibleportions and integrated circuits that are formed on a flexiblesubstrate. Flexible internal components may include flexible batteriessuch as batteries having rigid and flexible portions, batteries formedfrom multiple rigid portions joined in a flexible joint, and batteriesformed from flexible battery layers.

Flexible housing members may include housing members with rigid andflexible portions, or housing members that are substantially allflexible. Flexible housing members may include hinges or elastomericportions that allow the flexible housing members to flex. Flexiblehousing members may have portions that provide flexibility in onedimension and other portions that provide rigidity in another dimension.Flexible housing members may have one or more multi-stable flex regionssuch as bi-stable flex regions for providing two or more stableconfigurations for the flexible electronic device.

Flexible housing members may include configurable internal supportstructures that have flexible and rigid configurations. Flexible housingmembers may include fluid filled or air filled pockets for alternatelystiffening and flexing the device.

Flexible electronic devices may include flex sensing components forsensing deformations of the flexible electronic device. Deformations ofthe flexible electronic device that are sensed by flex sensingcomponents may provide user input to the electronic device. For example,twisting a flexible electronic device may change the operating mode ofthe device, may be interpreted by the device as a command to anelectronic gaming system, may turn the device on or off, etc.

Flexible electronic devices may be more resistant to damage duringimpact events such as drops because the flexible device may bend ordeform while absorbing the impact. Deformation of this type may increasethe duration of an impact thereby reducing the impulse received by othercomponents of the flexible device.

Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantageswill be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the followingdetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative flexible electronicdevice in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an illustrative set of display layers that may beused to form a flexible display in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative flexibleelectronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative flexible mainlogic board formed from a flexible printed circuit substrate withelectrical components in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative rigid flex mainlogic board having a flexible printed circuit substrate and electroniccomponents in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a top view of an illustrative main logic board with cutawayportions for providing flexibility in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6B is a top view of an illustrative elongated main logic board withcutaway portions for providing flexibility in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativemain logic board of the type shown in FIG. 6A with cutaway portions forproviding flexibility in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative flexiblebattery having flexible and rigid portions in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top view of an illustrative flexible battery of the typeshown in FIG. 8 having flexible and rigid portions in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an illustrative flexible battery havingflexible and rigid portions in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativeflexible battery in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativeflexible battery having lubricating separator layers in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative flexiblebattery having interlocking layers in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional end view of an illustrative flexiblehousing having flexible and rigid portions in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an illustrative flexible housing havingportions of different flexibility in different dimensions in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an illustrative flexible housing of thetype shown in FIG. 15 showing how the flexible housing may be lessflexible in one dimension than in a second dimension in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative bi-stableflexible housing having multiple stable positions in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a rear perspective view of an illustrative flexible housinghaving multiple multi-stable portions providing more than twomulti-stable positions in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 19 is a rear perspective view of a portion of an illustrativeflexible housing in the vicinity of a bi-stable portion in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an illustrative diagram showing two multi-stable positions ofa flexible housing in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a rigid flex printed circuit that maybe used in a flexible electronic device having a flexible housing withmultiple multi-stable portions in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 22 is a perspective side view of an illustrative flexibleelectronic device in a tri-folded closed position in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a perspective side view of an illustrative flexibleelectronic device in a partially folded position in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a perspective side view of an illustrative flexibleelectronic device in a folded closed position in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative flexibleelectronic device having a flexible expandable housing with multiplestable positions in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of an illustrative configurable supportmember that includes locking spine system for providing flexible andrigid support for a flexible electronic device in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative flexiblehousing having a configurable support member that includes a bladdersystem in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A flexible electronic device may be provided with flexible internal andexternal components that allow the device to be flexible. The flexibleinternal components may include a flexible display, flexible batteries,flexible circuit boards or other flexible electrical or supportcomponents.

Flexible exterior components may include a flexible display cover layer,a flexible housing or other flexible external components. Flexibleinterior and exterior components may have regions of relatively moreflexibility and regions of relatively less flexibility. Flexible devicesmay have portions of relatively more flexibility and portions ofrelatively less flexibility. Flexible devices may be relatively moreflexible in one dimension than in another dimension.

Flexible displays may be formed from flexible layers such as a flexibledisplay layer (e.g., a flexible organic light-emitting diode array), aflexible touch-sensitive layer (e.g., a sheet of polymer with an arrayof transparent capacitor electrodes for a capacitive touch sensor), aflexible substrate layer, etc. These flexible layers may, if desired, becovered by a flexible cover layer (e.g., a flexible plastic or flexiblethin glass layer) or may be supported by a flexible support structure(e.g., a flexible support structure on the underside of the flexiblelayers).

Cover layers may be provided with openings that provide access to theflexible layers of the display. For example, a cover layer may have anopening that allows a button member to move relative to the cover glasslayer. As the button member moves within the opening, underlyingportions of the flexible display may be deformed (e.g., to allowactuation of an associated switch).

Electronic devices may also be provided with user interface components(input-output components) such as buttons, microphones, speakers,piezoelectric actuators or (for receiving electrical input from a useror tactile feedback to users), other actuators such as vibrators,pressure sensors, and other components. These components may be mountedunder portions of a flexible display.

User interface components may be mounted under the flexible display ormay be integrated into the flexible display. The deformable nature ofthe flexible display may allow a user to interact with the userinterface components (input-output components) by moving the displayinto contact with the user interface components or by otherwise allowingthe display to locally flex (e.g., to allow sound to pass through theflexible display or to allow barometric pressure measurements of theexterior environment to be made by an internal pressure sensor). Ifdesired, a portion of the flexible display may form a membrane portionof an electrical component. Components that may be provided with amembrane that is formed from a portion of a flexible display includemicrophones, laser microphones, pressure sensors, speakers, etc.

User interface components may be configured to detect deformations ofall or part of the electronic device. Deformations detected by userinterface components may be interpreted by processing softwareassociated with the device as user inputs to the device.

As an example, a flexible device may be foldable so that the device maybe folded for storage (e.g., in a pocket). User interface components maybe configured to sense that a device has been folded and to cause thedevice to enter a standby or off mode. User interface components may beconfigured to sense inactive deformations of the device (e.g., a foldedor open position of the device) or may be configured to detect activedeformations of the device (e.g., active twisting, squeezing, bending orotherwise active deforming) of the device.

As another example, user interface components may be configured todetect a twist of a flexible electronic device. User interfacecomponents may be configured to initiate a response from the device tothe detected twist such as turning the device on or off, entering activeor standby mode, answering a cellular telephone call, starting asoftware application, changing a volume associated with audio or videoplayback of media, starting or stopping audio playback of media, etc.

An illustrative flexible electronic device of the type that may beprovided with flexible interior and exterior components that allow thedevice to bend is shown in FIG. 1. Electronic device 10 may be aportable electronic device or other suitable electronic device. Forexample, electronic device 10 may be a laptop computer, a tabletcomputer, a somewhat smaller device such as a wrist-watch device,pendant device, or other wearable or miniature device, a cellulartelephone, a media player, etc.

Device 10 may include a flexible housing such as housing 12. Flexiblehousing 12, which may sometimes be referred to as a case, may be formedof a deformable material such as plastic, thin glass, fiber composites,thin metal (e.g., aluminum, etc.), fabric, silicone, other suitablematerials, or a combination of these materials. In some situations,parts of housing 12 may be formed from dielectric or otherlow-conductivity material. In other situations, housing 12 or at leastsome of the structures that make up housing 12 may be formed from metalelements.

Housing 12 may be formed from a conformal mold (e.g., soft deformableplastic, silicone or other deformable material that bonds to internalcomponents such as batteries, printed circuits or other components) thatconforms to fill available volume in device 10 or housing 12 may beattached to internal components or a display using fasteners, adhesives,welds, or other attachment members or features. Housing 12 may includeengagement features for attaching other flexible or rigid components ofdevice 10. Flexible housing 12 may be formed from a single flexiblestructure formed from a deformable material or may include multiplehousing structures formed from a deformable material.

Device 10 may have a flexible display such as flexible display 14.Flexible display 14 may be configured to flex with flexible housing 12as shown in FIG. 1. Flexible display 14 may be formed from multiplelayers of material. These layers may include a touch sensor layer suchas a layer on which a pattern of indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes orother suitable transparent electrodes have been deposited to form acapacitive touch sensor array. These layers may also include a layerthat contains an array of display pixels. The touch sensor layer and thedisplay layer may be formed using flexible sheets of polymer or othersubstrates having thicknesses of 10 microns to 0.5 mm or other suitablethicknesses (as an example).

The display pixel array may be, for example, an organic light-emittingdiode (OLED) array containing rows and columns of OLED display pixels.Other types of flexible display pixel arrays may also be formed (e.g.,electronic ink displays, etc.). The use of OLED technology to formflexible display 14 is sometimes described herein as an example. Thisis, however, merely illustrative. Flexible display 14 may be formedusing any suitable flexible display technology. The use of flexibledisplays that are based on OLED technology is merely illustrative.

In addition to these functional display layers (i.e., the OLED array andthe optional touch sensor array), display 14 may include one or morestructural layers. For example, display 14 may be covered with aflexible cover layer and/or may be mounted on a support structure (e.g.,a flexible support). Layers of adhesive may be used in attachingflexible display layers to each other and may be used in mountingflexible display layers to flexible structural layers.

Input-output components may be mounted at any suitable location underthe display (e.g., along peripheral portions of the display, in acentral portion of the display, etc.). If desired, the cover layer maybe provided with one or more openings and the electronic components maybe mounted under the openings. For example, a rigid cover layer may haveopenings for button 17 and a speaker port opening for a speaker such asspeaker 19 (e.g., for an ear speaker for a user). Device 10 may alsohave other openings (e.g., openings in display 14 and/or housing 12 foraccommodating volume buttons, ringer buttons, sleep/power buttons suchas button 16, and other buttons, openings for switches such as switch15, openings for an audio jack, data port connectors, removable mediaslots, etc.).

Buttons 17, 16 and switch 15 may be based on dome switches or otherswitch circuitry. Buttons 17, 16 and switch 15 may include buttonmembers that form push buttons (e.g., momentary buttons), sliderswitches, rocker switches, etc. Switch 15 may be used to changeoperational modes of device 10 (e.g., turn a ringer for a cellulartelephone on, off, or switch to a vibrate-only mode) or may be used tochange a physical characteristic of device 10 (e.g., to switch housing12 from a flexible to a rigid state using internal stiffeningstructures). Switch 15 may be an electronic switch or a mechanicalswitch that engages internal stiffening structures (e.g., an internallocking skeleton, an internal bladder system, an internal configurablesupport structure, etc.) associated with housing 12.

Device 10 may include components such as interface components 24 and 26that may be fully internal to device 10, but that receive input from theuser or from the surrounding environment through physical interactionwith flexible display 14 or other portions of flexible device 10.Interface components 24 and 26 may be positioned underneath flexibledisplay 14 or flexible housing 12 so that flexible display 14 orflexible housing 12 must be deformed in order to contact components 24or 26 or, if desired may be positioned to remain in constant contactwith flexible display 14. Components 24 and 26 may be proximity sensors,pressure sensors, touch sensors (e.g., a portion of touch-sensitivedisplay 14), light sensors, magnetic sensors, capacitive sensors, orother types of sensors configured to sense deformations of one or moreportions of device 10.

Interface components 24 and 26 may be positioned so that a deformationof flexible device 10 may activate internal components 24 or 26. Forexample, interface component 26 may include a switch positioned so thata squeeze of flexible device 10 that deforms flexible housing 12 andflexible display 14 (as indicated by dashed line 18) activates interfacecomponent 26 (e.g., by moving a portion of housing 12 into contact withthe switch and thereby operating the switch). Interface component 24 maybe configured to sense the relative position of interface component 26.Relative positions of internal components such as components 24 and 26may provide information about the position or active flexing of device10. Information about the position or about active flexing of device 10may be used to activate internal components 24 or 26 or may activesoftware applications that run on a processor associated with device 10.

For example, internal component 24 may be configured to sense a distanceof internal component 24 from internal component 26. Internal component24 may be configured to change an operating mode of device 10 when thedistance between internal component 24 and internal component 26 fallsbelow or rises above a predetermined threshold (e.g., to put display 14to sleep when the distance becomes less than the predeterminedthreshold, to turn display 14 on when the distance rises above thepredetermined threshold, to turn device 10 off when the distance becomesless than the predetermined threshold, etc.)

An exploded perspective view of an illustrative display is shown in FIG.2. As shown in FIG. 2, flexible display 14 may be formed by stackingmultiple layers including flexible display layer 14A, touch-sensitivelayer 14B, and cover layer 14C. Display 14 may also include other layersof material such as adhesive layers, optical films, or other suitablelayers. Flexible display layer 14 may include image pixels formed fromlight-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic LEDs (OLEDs), plasma cells,electronic ink elements, liquid crystal display (LCD) components, orother suitable image pixel structures compatible with flexible displays.

Touch-sensitive layer 14B may incorporate capacitive touch electrodessuch as horizontal transparent electrodes 320 and vertical transparentelectrodes 340. Touch-sensitive layer 14B may, in general, be configuredto detect the location of one or more touches or near touches ontouch-sensitive layer 14B based on capacitive sensors, resistivesensors, optical sensors, acoustic sensors, inductive sensors, or forcesensors.

Software and/or hardware may be used to process the measurements of thedetected touches to identify and track one or more gestures. A gesturemay correspond to stationary or non-stationary, single or multiple,touches or near touches on touch-sensitive layer 14B. A gesture may beperformed by moving one or more fingers or other objects in a particularmanner on touch-sensitive layer 14B such as tapping, pressing, rocking,scrubbing, twisting, changing orientation, pressing with varyingpressure and the like at essentially the same time, contiguously, orconsecutively. A gesture may be characterized by, but is not limited toa pinching, sliding, swiping, rotating, flexing, dragging, or tappingmotion between or with any other finger or fingers. A single gesture maybe performed with one or more hands, by one or more users, or anycombination thereof.

Cover layer 14C may be formed from plastic, thin glass (sometimesreferred to as display cover glass) or other flexible transparentmaterial. If desired, the interior surface of peripheral inactiveportions of cover layer 14C may be provided with an opaque masking layeron such as black ink.

Touch-sensitive flexible display section 14AB may be formed from displaypixel array layer 14A and optional touch sensor layer 14B.

FIG. 3 is cross-sectional side view of an illustrative embodiment ofdevice 10 with flexible internal and external components. As shown inFIG. 3, flexible internal and external components of device 10 mayinclude a flexible display such as flexible display 14, a flexiblehousing such as flexible housing 12, a flexible logic board such asflexible printed circuit 30, and a flexible battery such as flexiblebattery 34. As shown in FIG. 3, flexible battery 34 may, if desired,include one or more battery cells or battery packs such as chargestorage components 60.

Flexible printed circuit 30 may be a flexible printed circuit substrate,a rigid printed circuit board with one or more flexible portions formedfrom a layer of flexible printed circuit substrate, or a rigid printedcircuit board with rigid portions that flex with respect to other rigidportions. Integrated circuits, power management units, storage such asvolatile and non-volatile memory, discrete components such as resistors,capacitors, and inductors, and other electronic components 32 may bemounted to flexible printed circuit 30.

Device 10 may be provided with one or more batteries such as battery 34.Battery 34 may be mounted to flexible housing 12, may be mounted toflexible printed circuit 30, or may be otherwise mounted in flexiblehousing 12.

A device such as device 10 that includes flexible internal and externalcomponents may be a flexible device that is able to be flexed ordeformed as indicated by arrows 36. Housing 12, display 14, logic board30 and battery 34 may be configured so that flexible device 10 has oneor more preferred positions and so that flexible device 10 returns toone of the preferred positions in the absence of external flexing forcessuch as flexing forces in the direction of arrows 36. This is merelyillustrative. If desired, flexible device 10 may have no preferredposition and may be configured to remain in any curved, flexed orsubstantially flat position.

As shown in FIG. 3, flexible display 14 may include bent sidewallportions 38 that are bent to be mounted adjacent to a flexible housingsidewall such as sidewall portions 12S of housing 12. Housing 12 mayinclude a rear portion such as flexible rear housing wall 12R thatprovides device 10 with a flexible rear surface. Flexible housing 12,flexible display 14, flexible battery 34 and flexible printed circuit 30may allow flexible device 10 to be flexed out of, for example, an x-yplane into a z dimension as shown in FIG. 3. Flexible housing 12,flexible display 14, flexible battery 34 and flexible printed circuit 30may be able to be flexed about an axis that is parallel to the y-axis(shown in FIG. 3), about an axis that is parallel to the x-axis, and/orabout an axis that is parallel to the z-axis.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativeflexible printed circuit substrate such as flexible printed circuit 30.As shown in FIG. 4, printed circuit 30 may be formed from a flexibleprinted circuit (also sometimes referred to herein as a flex circuit).In configurations in which printed circuit 30 is formed from a flexcircuit, components 32 may be mounted to flexible portions of printedcircuit 30.

Flexible printed circuit 30 may contain patterned conductive traces(e.g., conductive traces on flexible sheets of substrate such aspolyimide sheets).

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativeprinted circuit 30. As shown in FIG. 5, printed circuit 30 may be formedfrom a rigid-flex circuit having rigid portions such as rigid portions40 and flexible portions such as flexible portions 42. Flexible portions42 and rigid portions 40 of printed circuit 30 may include multiplelayers. A multi-layer printed circuit such as printed circuit 30 maysometimes be referred to as a printed circuit board (PCB) stack or PCBstack-up.

Layers of printed circuit 30 may be formed from dielectrics such asfiberglass-filled epoxy (e.g., as a rigid layer in a PCB stack) andpolyimide (e.g., as a flexible layer in a PCB stack), FR-2 (phenoliccotton paper), FR-3 (cotton paper and epoxy), FR-4 (woven glass andepoxy), FR-5 (woven glass and epoxy), FR-6 (matte glass and polyester),G-10 (woven glass and epoxy), CEM-1 (cotton paper and epoxy), CEM-2(cotton paper and epoxy), CEM-3 (woven glass and epoxy), CEM-4 (wovenglass and epoxy), CEM-5 (woven glass and polyester), paper impregnatedwith phenolic resin, polystyrene, polyimide, polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE), plastic, other polymers, ceramics, or other suitabledielectrics.

Layers of printed circuit 30 may include attachment layers such aslayers of prepreg (i.e., pre-impregnated layers of fiber and resin).Layers of copper or other conductive materials may be formed on thesurfaces of other layers.

Flexible portions 42 may contain patterned conductive traces (e.g.,conductive traces on flexible sheets of substrate such as polyimidesheets) that convey signals between rigid portions 40, components suchas components 32 or other components of device 10.

FIG. 6A shows a top view of an illustrative printed circuit 30 formedfrom a rigid printed circuit board having openings that allow rigidportions to flex with respect to other rigid portions. As shown in FIG.6A, printed circuit 30 may be provided with one or more patternedopenings such as openings 44. Openings 44 may be cut, etched, machinedor otherwise formed in printed circuit 30. In the example of FIG. 6A,printed circuit 30 is formed from a rigid circuit board 40 that hasportions such as rigid portions 48 that are configured to flex withrespect to other rigid portions such as central rigid portion 50 ofprinted circuit 30.

As shown in FIG. 6A, rigid central portion 50 may include an integratedcircuit such as central processing unit 46. Central processing unit(CPU) 46 may be mounted to rigid central portion 50 to protect CPU 46from damage due to flexing of printed circuit 30 (e.g., to protect CPU46 from becoming separated from printed circuit 30). Other components 32may be mounted to rigid portions 50 and/or rigid portions 48 of printedcircuit 30. Rigid central portion 50 may have some internal flexibility.Rigid portions 48 may have relatively more flexibility with respect torigid central portions 50 than rigid central portion 50 has internalflexibility.

Compliant printed circuit 30 of FIG. 6A formed from a substantiallysquare rigid printed circuit board having openings 44 and CPU 44 mountedin a central portion is merely illustrative. If desired, CPU may bemounted in other positions on printed circuit 30 and printed circuit 30may have other geometries.

As an example, FIG. 6B shows an elongated printed circuit 30 formed froma rigid printed circuit board having rigid portions 48 separated bypatterned openings as openings 34. As shown in FIG. 6B, CPU 46 may beformed on one of rigid portions 48. Electronic components such ascomponents 32 may be mounted to a common rigid portion 48 with CPU 46 ormounted to other rigid portions 48. Openings 44 of FIGS. 6A and 6B mayallow rigid portions 48 to flex with respect to central portion 50 (FIG.6A) or to other rigid portions 48 (FIGS. 6A and 6B) while rigid portions48 remain substantially flat as shown in FIG. 7

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a flexible printed circuit ofthe type shown in FIG. 6A, taken along line A of FIG. 6A. As shown inFIG. 6A, forces exerted on printed circuit 30 (as indicated by arrows59) may cause rigid portions 48 of printed circuit 30 to flex withrespect to central portion 50. In the presence of these flexing forces,rigid central portion 50 may flex less than rigid portions 48 flex withrespect to rigid central portion 50. Rigid central portion 50 may have arigidity that ensures that portion 54 (e.g., the portion of centralportion 50 that includes a mounted circuit such as CPU 46) remainssubstantially flat.

In the absence of flexing forces, rigid portions 48 may form a portionof a planar printed circuit in an x-y plane (as indicated by dashedlines 57). Under flexing forces such as flexing forces in directionsindicated by arrows 59, flexible printed circuit 30 may flex out of thex-y plane. Rigid portions 48 may flex about an axis parallel to they-axis more than rigid central portion 50 flexes about that axis.Providing a rigid central portion 50 that ensures that portion 54remains substantially flat may protect CPU 46 from becoming damaged orseparated from printed circuit 30.

As shown in FIG. 7, openings such as openings 44 in printed circuit 30may allow rigid portions 48 to flex with respect to other rigid portions48 and rigid central portion 50 while each rigid portion 48 remainssubstantially flat. Providing rigid portions 48 that remainsubstantially flat while flexing with respect to other portions ofprinted circuit 30 may protect components such as components 32 frombecoming damaged or separated from printed circuit 30 while printedcircuit 30 is being flexed or deformed.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativeflexible battery of the type shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 8,flexible battery 34 may be designed to flex in a safe and repeatablemanner under flexing forces (as indicated by arrows 52). In the exampleof FIG. 8, flexible battery 34 may include a segmented package of one ormore battery cells such as battery cells 60. Battery cells 60 may eachbe configured to store electric charge for device 10. Battery cells 60may be connected to each other battery cell 60 or may be coupleddirectly to a component of device 10 such as a power management unit fordelivering electric power to components such as components 32 (see,e.g., FIG. 3) of device 10.

As shown in FIG. 8, battery cells 60 may be attached using flexiblemembers 62. Flexible members 62 may be formed from plastic, silicon orother elastomeric material. Battery cells 60 may each include conductivestructures such as conductive anodes and cathodes. Conductive anodes andcathodes in battery cells 60 may be separated by separating layers.

Flexible members 62 may be configured so that battery 34 may flex into acurved position such as curved position 64 under flexing forces indirections indicated by arrows 52. Flexible members 62 may be configuredso that flexible battery 34 may be returned to a substantially flatposition as indicated by dashed lines 66. In the example of FIG. 8,battery cells 60 may be cylindrical battery cells.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a flexible battery of the type shown in FIG. 8.As shown in FIG. 8, cylindrical battery cells 60 may be joined usingflexible members 62. In the example of FIGS. 8 and 9, flexible battery34 may be preferentially flexible about an axis that is parallel tocylindrical members 60. This is merely illustrative. If desired,flexible battery 34 may be configured to allow flexible battery 34 to beflexed in multiple dimensions as shown in FIG. 10.

As shown in FIG. 10, battery cells 60 may include one or more coin cellsmounted on a sheet of flexible material such as flexible sheet 74.Flexible sheet 74 may be formed from plastic, silicon or other flexiblematerial. If desired, flexible sheet 74 may be implemented usingflexible sheets of substrate such as a polyimide sheets. Inconfigurations in which battery 34 is formed from coin cells on aflexible sheet, coin cells may be connected using interconnects 70. Coincells 60 may be coupled to other device components such as a powermanagement unit using conductive connectors 72.

Conductive connectors 72 and conductive interconnects 70 may be formedfrom wires, twisted wire pairs, other wires, or may be formed fromconductive traces in flexible sheet 74. Coin cells 60 may each includeconductive structures such as conductive anodes and cathodes. Conductiveanodes and cathodes in battery cells 60 may be separated by dielectricseparating layers. Providing device 10 with a battery such a flexiblebattery 34 having coin cells mounted on a flexible sheet may provideflexibility in multiple dimensions for battery 34 and device 10. Theexample of FIG. 10 in which flexible battery 34 is formed from coincells mounted on a flexible sheet is merely illustrative. If desiredflexible battery may be formed by with lubricating separator layers(sometimes called slip layers) that allow battery 34 to flex as shown inFIGS. 11 and 12.

As shown in FIG. 11, flexible battery 34 may include layers of electrodestructures such as layers 80. Layers 80 may include anode and cathodeelectrodes A and C respectively and separator/electrolyte layers S/E.Cathode layer C may be attached to an upper surface of a separator layersuch as separator/electrode layer S/E. Anode layer (e.g., negativeelectrode layer) A may be attached to an opposing lower surface of aseparator layer such as separator layer S/E. The layers of electrodestructures 80 are typically thin (e.g., fractions of a millimeter).

Battery 34 may include battery technology such as lithium-ion batterytechnology, lithium polymer battery technology, or other batterytechnology. In configurations in which battery 34 is implemented usinglithium-ion battery technology, positive electrode C, which is sometimesreferred to as the cathode, may include lithium, whereas negativeelectrode A, which is sometimes referred to as the anode, may containcarbon.

In configurations in which battery 34 is implemented using lithiumpolymer battery technology, positive and negative electrodes C and Arespectively may be laminated to opposing sides of separator layer S/Eformed from a polymer separator sheet. For example, a lithium polymerbattery may have a positive electrode layer C that is formed from LiCoO2or LiMnO4, a separator layer S/E that is formed from a polymer such aspolyethylene oxide, and a negative electrode layer A that containslithium or a compound of lithium and carbon (as examples). Other typesof electrodes and separators may be used. These are merely illustrativeexamples.

As shown in FIG. 11, flexible battery 34 may include lubriciousseparator layers such as slip layers 82. Slip layers 82 may beinterposed between electrode structures such as battery layers 80.Providing battery 34 with lubricious separator layers may help layers 80slide or glide with respect to other layers 80 thereby allowing battery34 to flex. Lubricious separator 82 may be formed fromtetrafluoroethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (e.g.,) Teflon®, or othersuitable materials. In the example of FIG. 11, every other separatorlayer in battery 34 is a slip layer such as slip layers 82. This ismerely illustrative. If desired, separator layers S/E may be lubricious,every second separator layer between layers 82 may be lubricious, asingle lubricious layer may be provided, or other configurations inwhich battery 34 includes a lubricious layer such as layer 82 arepossible.

Separator/electrolyte layers S/E may be an electrolyte gel orelectrolyte liquid that allows ions (e.g., electrons, or other chargedparticles) to flow between positive electrode layers C and A. Lubriciousseparator layers may, for example, be formed from non-permeable materialthat prevents the flow of ions such as electrons or other chargedparticles. Separator layers S/E and lubricious separator layers 82 maybe formed from a common material or may be formed from differentmaterials. Slip layers 82 may be more lubricious than separator layersS/E of electrode structures 80.

Electrode structures 80 may be sealed in a battery pouch such as pouch84. Pouch 84 may, for example, be formed from a polymer that is linedwith a metal such as aluminum.

To ensure that battery 34 is formed from electrode structures 80 havingsufficient charge storage capacity, the area of electrode structures 80may be many square centimeters in size (as an example). It may thereforebe desirable to fold electrode structures into a more compact shape. Forexample, it may be desirable to wrap electrode structures into a shapeof the type shown in FIG. 12.

This type of electrode configuration, which is sometimes referred to asa jelly-roll shape, reduces the footprint of the battery and providesthe battery with a size and shape that is compatible with typical deviceform factors. This type of electrode configuration may includelubricious layers such as layers 82 that provide glide capabilitybetween layers 80 thereby increasing the flexibility of battery 34.

As described above in connection with FIG. 11, layers 80 of battery 34may include cathode layers C, anode layers A and separator layers S/Ethat separate the conductive layers. As shown in FIG. 12, layers 80 maybe separated from other layers 80 using a lubricious separator layersuch as slip layer 82. Providing battery 34 with lubricating separatorlayers such as slip layer 82 may allow battery 34 to flex under flexingforces in directions such as directions 52 and/or 78.

If desired, additional lubricious material such as material 86 may beprovided at the center of wrapped layers 80 of battery 34. Additionallubricious material 86 may provide additional flexibility for battery 34by further lubricating internal wrapped layers 80 of battery 34.Lubricious material 86 may be formed from the same material as thematerial that forms slip layers 82 or may be formed from a differentmaterial from the material that forms slip layers 82.

In configurations in which flexible battery 34 is includes wrappedcathode/anode/separator layers separated by lubricating separatormaterials such as lubricious separator 82, battery 34 may be providedwith tabs such as tabs 76. Tabs 76 may include engagement members formounting battery 34 to device structures such as housing 12 or coverlayer 14C. Tabs 76 may include conductive connectors for electricallycoupling battery 34 to other device circuitry such as a power managementunit or printed circuit 30 (see FIG. 3). For example, tabs 76 mayinclude a positive terminal connected to cathode layer C of layer 80 anda negative terminal connected to anode layer A of layer 80. Wrappedlayers 80 of battery 34 may be sealed in a pouch such as outer film 84.Outer film 84 may be configured to provide a flexible enclosure forbattery 34.

The example of FIG. 12 in which layers 80 of battery 34 are wrapped toform a jelly-roll battery is merely illustrative. If desired, layers 80of battery 34 may be mounted in pouch 84 such that layers 80 form aninterlocking interface region as shown in FIG. 13. In the example ofFIG. 13, an interlocking interface region such as interface region 88may be provided in which a portion of some layers 80 interlock with aportion of other layers 80. Providing battery 34 with partiallyinterlocking layers 80 as shown in FIG. 13 may allow flexing of battery34 in interface region 88 due to flexing forces as indicated by arrows52.

FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional end view of an illustrative flexiblehousing of the type shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 14, housing 12 mayinclude a segmented housing structure that includes relatively rigidportions such as portions 90 and relatively flexible portions such asportions 92.

Rigid portions 90 may be formed from plastic, glass, ceramics, fibercomposites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), fabric,silicone, other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials.Flexible portions 92 may include hinges or other rotating members thatattach rigid portions 92 and allow rigid portions 92 to move withrespect to other rigid portions 92 under flexing forces as indicated byarrows 52. This is merely illustrative.

If desired, flexible portions 92 may include elastomeric membersinterposed between rigid portions 90 or may be formed from relativelysoft elastomeric material that forms an integrated portion of a singlehousing structure 12 that includes rigid portions 90 and flexibleportions 92. For example, flexible portions 92 may be formed from anelastomeric material such as elastomeric foam, silicone, rubber,silicone rubber, a thermoplastic elastomeric (TPE) such as athermoplastic polyurethane polymer, etc.

The example of FIG. 14 is merely illustrative. If desired, flexiblehousing 12 may be formed from a single elastomeric structure or mayinclude a housing structure having a variable cross section forproviding varying resistance to flexing as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a housing structure such as housing 12having a flexible sheet such as flexible sheet 94 (e.g., a thin sheet offlexible plastic, fiber composites, metal, fabric, silicone, othersuitable materials, or a combination of these materials) and a rigidsupport structure such as support structure 96. Support structure 96 maybe a relatively thicker material such as carbon fiber, plastic, glass,ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum,etc.), fabric, silicone, other suitable materials, or a combination ofthese materials. Flexible sheet 94 may form, for example, a rear wall(e.g., rear wall 12R of FIG. 3) for device 10. Flexible sheet 94 mayallow flexing of housing 12 about an axis parallel to the y-axis shownin FIG. 15 (as indicated by arrows 98).

As shown in FIG. 16, support structure 96 may be formed extend along adimension of flexible sheet 94 along a y-axis that is perpendicular tothe x-axis shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Support structure 96 may thereforeprovide resistance to flexing about an axis that is parallel to thex-axis shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 (as indicated by arrows 99). Providinghousing 12 with flexible sheet 94 and support structure 96 may providepreferential flexibility about an axis that is parallel to the longestdimension of support structure 96. Support structure 96 may have aflexibility that is less than the flexibility of flexible sheet 94.

If desired, housing 12 may be configured to have one or more stableconfigurations as shown in FIG. 17. In the example of FIG. 17, housing12 is formed from a bi-stable housing structure having two preferredpositions. As shown in FIG. 17, housing 12 may have a stable positionsuch as position 100. Housing 12 may be configured so that, when inposition 100, housing 12 remains in position 100 in the absence ofexternal flexing forces.

A user of device 10 may apply a force in direction 102 to housing 12.Housing 12 may be configured to deform in response to the force indirection 102 until housing 12 reaches a second stable position 104.Housing 12 may be configured so that, when in position 104, housing 12remains in position 104 in the absence of external flexing forces. Auser of device 10 may apply a force in direction 106 to device 10.Housing 12 may be configured to deform in response to the force indirection 106 until housing 12 returns to stable position 100.

Providing device 10 with a housing such as housing 12 having more thanone stable position may increase the ergonomic usage of device 10 whileprovide stable positions for resting device 10 on a surface. Providingdevice 10 with a housing such as housing 12 having more than one stableposition may allow a user of device 10 to alter the shape of display 14from a shape having a concave outer surface (e.g., in position 100) to ashape having convex outer surface (e.g., in position 104). This ismerely illustrative. If desired, housing 12 may have more than onestable position, more than two stable positions, more than three stablepositions, or may be continuously flexible so that device 10 may beflexed in to any position.

As shown in FIG. 18, housing 12 may include one or more multi-stableregions such as regions 110. Regions 110 may include hinges or otherbearings having discrete stable positions, elastomeric materialsattached to or integrated into other portions of housing 12, or mayinclude patterned holes, bulges, protrusions, openings or features forproviding multi-stable portions 110 with one or more stable positions.Providing housing 12 with one or more multi-stable regions such asregions 110 may allow portions such as top portion 112, central portion114 and bottom portion 116 to flex separately into multiple stablepositions.

FIG. 19 shows an illustrative portion of housing 12 in the vicinity ofone of multi-stable regions 110. As shown in FIG. 19, multi-stableregions 110 of housing 12 may include one or more bi-stable protrusionssuch as bulges 113. Bulges 113 may be bi-stable bulges that have anexternal (i.e., convex) stable position and an internal (i.e., concave)stable position. Flexing bottom portion 116 as indicated by arrows 118may cause bulges 113 to “pop” into or out of device 10. Housing 12 maybe provided with a stable bent position in the configuration in whichbulges 113 bulge inward and another stable bent position in theconfiguration in which bulges 113 bulge outward of device 10. This ismerely illustrative. If desired, housing 12 may be configured to have ashape that allows a bi-stable portion 110 to be formed at any locationalong a length of housing 12 as shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 20 is a perspective rear view of a device having a housing such ashousing 12 having a flexible sidewall portion 12S that forms at least aportion of a sidewall for device 10 and a convex rear portion 12R thatprovides device 10 with a rear enclosure having bi-stable portions 110.As shown in FIG. 20, top portion 112 may be bent from a substantiallystraight position such as position 128 (in the x-y plane shown in FIG.20) to a bent position such as position 124 that is out of the x-yplane. Similarly, bottom portion 116 may be bent from a substantiallystraight position such as position 122 in the x-y plane to a bentposition such as position 120. Convex rear surface 12R may providedevice 10 with a stable straight configuration (i.e., a configuration inwhich top portion 112 and bottom portion 116 are in positions 128 and112 in the x-y plane respectively). Convex rear surface 12 may have oneor more multi-stable portions 110 that allow top portion 112 and bottomportion 116 to be flexed (e.g., into positions 124 and 120 respectively)out of the x-y plane about an axis that is parallel to the x-axis.

In order to provide device 10 with flexing capabilities of the typeshown in FIG. 20, device 10 may be provided with a printed circuit 30having rigid portions such as rigid portions 40 that correspond to topportion 112, central portion 114 and bottom portion 116 of device 10 asshown in FIG. 21. As shown in FIG. 21, rigid portions 40 may beconnected with flexible portions such as flexible portions 42. Flexibleportions 42 may be implemented using flexible printed circuits or may bea flexible polymer for forming a structural connection between rigidportions 40. If desired, flexible portions 42 may contain patternedconductive traces (e.g., conductive traces on flexible sheets ofsubstrate such as polyimide sheets) that convey signals between rigidportions 40, components such as components 32 or other components ofdevice 10.

A device such as device 10 having flexible internal and externalcomponents may be flexed into open positions (e.g., for display ininformation on a flat display), closed positions (e.g., for turning offdevice 10, for storing device 10, etc.), or partially open positions.

As shown in FIG. 22, flexible device 10 may have a closed position suchas closed position 121 in which top portion 112 and bottom portion 116are folded such that top portions of display 14 on top portion 112 andbottom portion 116 face display 14 of central portion 114 of device 10.Closed position 121 may be used for storing device 10 (e.g., in apocket). Storing device 10 in a closed position such as closed position121 may protect display 14 from scratching or other damage. Internalcomponents such as components 24 and 26 may include proximity sensorsthat sense when another of components 24 or 26 or when another portionof display 14 is nearby. Internal components such as components 24 and26 may be configured to alter the operational state of device 10 basedon proximity data gathered by components 24 and/or 26 (e.g., to turndevice 10 off or put device 10 in a sleep or low energy state when inclosed position 121).

As shown in FIG. 23, flexible device 10 may have a partially openposition such as position 123 in which a first portion such as portion126 of device 10 is bent upward while a second portion such as portion129 of device 10 is substantially flat. Partially open position 123 maybe used for resting device 10 on a surface (e.g., on a desk, table orother surface) while a user views display 14 (e.g., while a user readstext, watches media or other visual output on display 14). Partiallyopen position 123 may provide a more ergonomic position for a user toread text on display 14 while holding device 10 (e.g., while holdingdevice 10 in a position typically used for holding a book, magazine,newspaper or other paper media).

As shown in FIG. 24, flexible device 10 may have a closed position suchas closed position 125 in device 10 is folded in half. Closed position125 may be used for storing device 10 (e.g., in a pocket). Storingdevice 10 in a closed position such as closed position 120 may protectdisplay 14 from scratching or other damage. Internal components such ascomponents 24 and 26 may include proximity sensors that sense whenanother of components 24 or 26 or when another portion of display 14 isnearby. Internal components such as components 24 and 26 may beconfigured to alter the operational state of device 10 based onproximity data (e.g., to turn device 10 off or put device 10 in a sleepor low energy state when in closed position 125).

If desired, housing 12 may be formed from a fabric or other expandablematerial and an internal configurable support structure as shown in FIG.25. As shown in FIG. 25, housing 12 may be configured to have multiplestable positions such as positions 130 and 132. Position 132 may be asubstantially flat position. Housing 12 may include an internalconfigurable support structure such as structure 140 that changes theexterior shape of expandable housing 12 to produce an additional stableposition such as position 130. In the example of FIG. 25, housing 12 isexpanded by an internal configurable support structure to form a standthat supports device 10 in a partially open position such as position130. Partially open position 130 may provide a more ergonomic positionfor a user to read text or view other media on display 14 while restingdevice 10 (e.g., on a desk, table or other surface) while supportingdevice 10 with expanded housing 12.

FIG. 26 shows a perspective view of a portion of an illustrativeinternal configurable support structure that includes an internallocking skeleton for changing the shape or flexibility of housing 12 ofthe type described above in connection with FIG. 25. As shown in FIG.26, a configurable support structure such as configurable supportstructure 140 may include a rigid spine such as spine 142 having alocking hinge such as locking hinge 144 and one or more segmented armssuch as arms 146. Locking hinge 144 may be configured to engage (e.g.,lock) when spine 142 is twisted, compressed, stretched or otherwisemanipulated.

Spine 142 may be manipulated by twisting, squeezing, stretching,compressing or otherwise manipulating housing 12 of device 10 or may bemanipulated mechanically or electrically based on user input to device10 (e.g., using buttons, switches such as switch 15 (FIG. 1),touch-sensitive displays, etc.). Arms 146 may each include one or moresegments such as segments 148. Segments 148 may include segments thatare formed along sidewalls of housing 12, segments that are formed alongrear portions of housing 12 and/or segments formed within other portionsof housing 12.

Support 140 may be integrated into housing 12 (e.g., housing 12 may bemolded over support 140) or may be attached to housing 12. Engaginghinge 144 may engage arms 146 in a rigid state. Disengaging hinge 144may disengage arms 146 so that segments 148 may move independently.Engaging and disengaging hinge 144 may therefore alter the physicalstate of device 10 from flexible to rigid and rigid to flexiblerespectively. This is merely illustrative. If desired, internalconfigurable support structure may be formed from pockets of air, gas orliquid in portions of housing 12 as shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 27 shows a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative internalconfigurable support structure that includes a bladder system forchanging the shape or flexibility of housing 12 of the type describedabove in connection with FIG. 25. As shown in FIG. 27, internalconfigurable support structure 140 may include one or more pockets suchas cavities 150 in housing 12.

Cavities 150 may be temporarily or permanently filled with air, fluid,gas or other material such as material 152. Cavities 150 may be coupledto one or more channels 154 for delivering and removing material 152from cavities 152. Filling cavities 150 with material 152 may causehousing 12 to stiffen thereby providing a rigid housing for device 10.Removing material 152 from cavities 150 may relieve pressure from withincavities 150 and allow housing 12 to become flexible.

Cavities 150 may be filled with material 152 due to exterior mechanicalmanipulation of housing 12 (e.g., compression or other manipulation ofhousing 12 by a user of device 10), or due to mechanical or electricalpressurization of material 152 in cavities 150 (e.g., using anelectrically powered pump or other pressure regulation device to movematerial 152 into cavities 150) based on user input to device 10 (e.g.,using buttons, switches such as switch 15 (FIG. 1), touch-sensitivedisplays, etc.). For example, in one configuration, material 152 may bepressurized in cavities 150 by a pressure regulation device in order tostiffen housing 12 (e.g., to form a rigid support structure for housing12). In another configuration, material 152 may be unpressurized incavities 150 allowing housing 12 to be deformed. This is merelyillustrative.

If desired, cavities 150 may be partially filled with material 152 sothat housing 12 may be flexed until material 152 fills the volume ofcavities 150. For example, the flexibility of housing 12 may decreaseduring deformation of housing 12 due to increasing pressure of material152 in cavities 150 due to compression of cavities 150 due todeformation (flexing) of housing 12. If desired, cavities 150 may bedeformable cavities that conform to the shape of a users hand or body(e.g., while device 10 is stored in a pocket). Deformable cavities mayenhance the ergonomic features of device 10.

Filling and emptying cavities 150 may therefore alter the physical stateof device 10 from flexible to rigid and rigid to flexible respectively.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this inventionand various modifications can be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device, comprising: a flexiblehousing formed from a deformable material; a flexible display configuredto flex with the flexible housing; at least one sensor that detectsflexing of the flexible housing and the flexible display; and controlcircuitry that gathers sensor signals from the at least one sensor andperforms user input functions based on the sensor signals.
 2. Theelectronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one sensorcomprises first and second sensors and wherein flexing of the flexiblehousing and flexible display is detected based on a distance between thefirst and second sensors.
 3. The electronic device defined in claim 2wherein the control circuitry determines based on the sensor signalswhether the distance between the first and second sensors is below athreshold.
 4. The flexible electronic device defined in claim 3 whereinthe control circuitry turns off the flexible display when the distancebetween the first and second sensors is less than the threshold.
 5. Theelectronic device defined in claim 3 wherein the control circuitry turnson the flexible display when the distance between the first and secondsensors is greater than the threshold.
 6. The electronic device definedin claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor comprises a light sensor. 7.The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one sensorcomprises a pressure sensor.
 8. The electronic device defined in claim 1wherein the at least one sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.
 9. Theelectronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one sensorcomprises a switch and wherein the flexing of the flexible display andflexible housing activates the switch.
 10. The electronic device definedin claim 9 wherein a portion of the flexible housing contacts the switchwhen it is flexed to thereby activate the switch.
 11. The electronicdevice defined in claim 9 wherein a portion of the flexible displaycontacts the switch when it is flexed to thereby activate the switch.12. An electronic device, comprising: a flexible housing; a flexibledisplay; at least one internal component that senses deformation of theflexible housing and the flexible display; and control circuitry thatchanges an operating mode of the electronic device in response to thedeformation of the flexible housing and the flexible display.
 13. Theelectronic device defined in claim 12 wherein the flexible displaycomprises: a flexible display layer; and a flexible touch-sensitivelayer.
 14. The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein theflexible housing comprises: at least one rigid portion; and at least oneelastomeric portion that permits the deformation of the flexiblehousing.
 15. The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein theflexible housing comprises a multi-stable flexible housing having atleast first and second stable positions, and wherein the deformation ofthe flexible housing deforms the flexible housing from the first stableposition to the second stable position.
 16. A method for operating anelectronic device having a flexible display and a flexible housing,comprising: with at least one sensor in the flexible housing, receivinguser input from a user by detecting deformation of the flexible housingand the flexible display; and with control circuitry in the flexiblehousing, performing a user input function in response to sensor signalsfrom the at least one sensor.
 17. The method defined in claim 16 whereinthe flexible display comprises an array of pixels and a touch sensor.18. The method defined in claim 17 wherein performing the user inputfunction in response to the sensor signals comprises changing displaycontent that is displayed on the flexible display in response to thesensor signals.
 19. The method defined in claim 16 wherein the at leastone sensor comprises first and second sensors and wherein detecting thedeformation of the flexible housing and the flexible display comprisesdetecting a change in distance between the first and second sensors. 20.The method defined in claim 19 further comprising: with the controlcircuitry, activating the flexible display when the distance between thefirst and second sensors is greater than a threshold; and with thecontrol circuitry deactivating the flexible display when the distancebetween the first and second sensors is less than the threshold.